Marine Autonomy, Sensing and Communications
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this graduate subject on autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, covering the software and algorithms that let marine robots make sensing and navigation decisions in ocean environments. Lectures cover underwater acoustic communication, undersea navigation options, and acoustic, biological, and chemical sensors, along with how these integrate with autonomy systems for adaptive mapping and observation. A significant lab component uses the MOOS-IvP autonomy software infrastructure, run first in simulation and then on a field testbed of small autonomous surface craft and underwater vehicles operated on the Charles River. The course is aimed at students building collaborative undersea sensor networks and gives hands-on experience integrating control, modeling, and sensing in real hardware. Materials include lecture notes and lab assignments, free to access through MIT OCW with no certificate offered.